US8556086B2 - Solid-liquid separator using roller system - Google Patents

Solid-liquid separator using roller system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US8556086B2
US8556086B2 US12/801,191 US80119110A US8556086B2 US 8556086 B2 US8556086 B2 US 8556086B2 US 80119110 A US80119110 A US 80119110A US 8556086 B2 US8556086 B2 US 8556086B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
roller
solid
substance
liquid
rollers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active, expires
Application number
US12/801,191
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20110114552A1 (en
Inventor
Toichiro Takai
Satoshi Ueda
Toru Awazu
Motonari Amano
Kenji Kasama
Masahiro Yoshida
Masaaki Watanabe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Takai Tofu and Soymilk Equipment Co
Original Assignee
Takai Tofu and Soymilk Equipment Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Takai Tofu and Soymilk Equipment Co filed Critical Takai Tofu and Soymilk Equipment Co
Assigned to TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO. reassignment TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AMANO, MOTONARI, AWAZU, TORU, KASAMA, KENJI, TAKAI, TOICHIRO, UEDA, SATOSHI, WATANABE, MASAAKI, YOSHIDA, MASAHIRO
Assigned to TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO. reassignment TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO. RECORD TO CORRECT ASSIGNOR'S ADDRESS, FILING DATE AND TITLE ON AN ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 024491 FRAME 0044. Assignors: AMANO, MOTONARI, AWAZU, TORU, KASAMA, KENJI, TAKAI, TOICHIRO, UEDA, SATOSHI, WATANABE, MASAAKI, YOSHIDA, MASAHIRO
Assigned to TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO. reassignment TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO. RECORD TO CORRECT EXECUTED DATES ON AN ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME: 025019/0035 Assignors: AMANO, MOTONARI, AWAZU, TORU, KASAMA, KENJI, TAKAI, TOICHIRO, UEDA, SATOSHI, WATANABE, MASAAKI, YOSHIDA, MASAHIRO
Publication of US20110114552A1 publication Critical patent/US20110114552A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US8556086B2 publication Critical patent/US8556086B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D33/00—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation
    • B01D33/35—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation with multiple filtering elements characterised by their mutual disposition
    • B01D33/37—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation with multiple filtering elements characterised by their mutual disposition in parallel connection
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L11/00—Pulses, i.e. fruits of leguminous plants, for production of food; Products from legumes; Preparation or treatment thereof
    • A23L11/05—Mashed or comminuted pulses or legumes; Products made therefrom
    • A23L11/07—Soya beans, e.g. oil-extracted soya bean flakes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L11/00—Pulses, i.e. fruits of leguminous plants, for production of food; Products from legumes; Preparation or treatment thereof
    • A23L11/40—Pulse curds
    • A23L11/45—Soy bean curds, e.g. tofu
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L11/00—Pulses, i.e. fruits of leguminous plants, for production of food; Products from legumes; Preparation or treatment thereof
    • A23L11/60—Drinks from legumes, e.g. lupine drinks
    • A23L11/65—Soy drinks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D33/00—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation
    • B01D33/06—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation with rotary cylindrical filtering surfaces, e.g. hollow drums
    • B01D33/073—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation with rotary cylindrical filtering surfaces, e.g. hollow drums arranged for inward flow filtration
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D33/00—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation
    • B01D33/44—Regenerating the filter material in the filter
    • B01D33/46—Regenerating the filter material in the filter by scrapers, brushes nozzles or the like acting on the cake-side of the filtering element
    • B01D33/466—Regenerating the filter material in the filter by scrapers, brushes nozzles or the like acting on the cake-side of the filtering element scrapers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D33/00—Filters with filtering elements which move during the filtering operation
    • B01D33/58—Handling the filter cake in the filter for purposes other than for regenerating the filter cake remaining on the filtering element
    • B01D33/62—Handling the filter cake in the filter for purposes other than for regenerating the filter cake remaining on the filtering element for drying
    • B01D33/64—Handling the filter cake in the filter for purposes other than for regenerating the filter cake remaining on the filtering element for drying by compression
    • B01D33/646—Handling the filter cake in the filter for purposes other than for regenerating the filter cake remaining on the filtering element for drying by compression by pressure rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B30—PRESSES
    • B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
    • B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
    • B30B9/02—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material
    • B30B9/20—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material using rotary pressing members, other than worms or screws, e.g. rollers, rings, discs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B30—PRESSES
    • B30B—PRESSES IN GENERAL
    • B30B9/00—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes
    • B30B9/02—Presses specially adapted for particular purposes for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material, e.g. juice from fruits, oil from oil-containing material
    • B30B9/26—Permeable casings or strainers
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C02—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F—TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
    • C02F11/00—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor
    • C02F11/12—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening
    • C02F11/121—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening by mechanical de-watering
    • C02F11/126—Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening by mechanical de-watering using drum filters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a solid-liquid separator using a roller system, equipped with rollers each having a screen formed in the outer periphery thereof with plural pores, for separating a solid-liquid mixture into a solid substance and a liquid substance via the plural pores.
  • a solid-liquid mixture separator for separating liquid through filtration, squeezing and dehydration from a solid-liquid mixture having a solid substance and a liquid substance mixed with each other, in which cited as the solid-liquid mixture is a solid-liquid mixture (so-called “boiled soybean-water slurry” that is hereinafter referred to also as “soybean soup” in the description) as obtained through boiling of soybean slurry (so-called unheated soybean-water slurry) that has been acquired by immersing soybeans in water overnight and then scrubbing and crushing the soybeans while being added with water when manufacturing tofu, fried bean curd or soymilk beverage.
  • a solid-liquid mixture so-called “boiled soybean-water slurry” that is hereinafter referred to also as “soybean soup” in the description
  • a separator for a solid-liquid mixture there are a screw-system one comprising a cylindrical screen having plural pores formed therein and a spiral screw driven and rotated within the cylindrical screen and a multistage-system one comprising the screw-system one and a cylindrical screen that has plural pores formed therein for gravity filtration (a screen for filtration) (Japanese Patent No. 3417794 or 3392322, for example).
  • a roller-system one in which a solid-liquid mixture is supplied between a pair of right and left rollers facing each other, with their respective axial directions kept in parallel. Japanese Patent No.
  • Citure 3 points out that one extraction can only be attained with the pair of hollow rollers and performs squeezing with the pair of rollers (primary extraction) the solid-liquid mixture (soybean soup) supplied from above the pair of rollers and squeezing, with the lower surfaces of the rollers and a retention portion (secondary extraction), okara received on the retention portion with which an extraction passageway formed so that the amount to be discharged may be smaller than the amount to be received communicates.
  • Citation 3 as shown in FIG.
  • the retention portion 5 for okara (a solid substance) is formed so as to be surrounded by the pair of rollers 1, scrapers 4 for scraping the solid component adhering to the rollers, and opposing lower side surface portions 16a extending from opposing central portions 17 of the rollers 1 to the scrapers 4 and, at this retention portion 5, a throttle passageway 50 having a passageway throttled so that the amount to be discharged may be smaller than the amount to be received for giving squeezing pressure to the retained okara is formed.
  • the throttle passageway 50 has a discharge outlet 51 provided with a lid body 53 biased with a spring 52 in the direction of closing the discharge outlet 51.
  • the lid body 53 enables the opening area of the discharge outlet 51 to be varied in accordance with the internal pressure of the retention portion 5.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a solid-liquid separator using a roller system, in which a liquid substance is smoothly discharged out through the disposition of an inside drum within a roller and formation of a passageway for the liquid substance between the inside drum and the inside of a screen, the coefficient of discharging retained air and foams is heightened through an increase of the discharging flow rate and, at the same time, the cleaning coefficient is heightened through an increase of the flow rate of a detergent when cleaning the environment.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a solid-liquid separator using a roller system, which is capable of filtering the screen under balanced pressure and extracting the liquid substance having suppressed the retention of air and regeneration of foams by the air retention.
  • the present invention provides as the first aspect thereof a solid-liquid separator using a roller system, comprising a casing, rollers disposed within the casing and each provided with a screen that is formed in an outer periphery thereof with plural pores for separating via the plural pores a solid substance from a solid-liquid substance disposed outside the rollers and filtering a liquid substance toward inside the rollers, inside drums each disposed along an inner circumference of each of the rollers, and a passageway which is formed by means of the screen and the inside drum, which is provided with an outlet and along which the liquid substance separated by means of the screen is allowed to flow, collected at the outlet and discharged from the outlet.
  • the present invention when constant and appropriate pressure has been applied to the screen from outside the rollers using supply means for the solid-liquid mixture (a pump or supply means using its own weight and having controlled the level of the solid-liquid mixture in a hopper that is a supply inlet), balanced pressure is exerted onto the surface of the screen to also induce appropriate internal pressure in a narrow passageway between the screen and the inside drum having no pore and allow the liquid substance to swiftly flow stably. Therefore, the retained air is always pushed and allowed to flow along the passageway at a higher flow rate together with the liquid substance that has passed through the screen.
  • the liquid substance since the liquid substance always flows rapidly inside the screen, even a solid-liquid mixture containing air does not form air retention.
  • the solid-liquid separator having a roller system may have a configuration equipped with the aforementioned rollers and a roller or fixed plate provided with no screen.
  • the present invention further provides as the second aspect thereof the aforementioned solid-liquid separator using a roller system, wherein the rollers have roller shafts disposed rearward thereof, the inside drums are disposed along the roller shafts, and the outlets for discharging the liquid substance separated by means of the screen are disposed frontward of the rollers and at positions opposite to the roller shafts.
  • a preferred configuration is such that the inside drums, the rollers, the casing and a front lid having an outlet can be assembled or disassembled relative to the roller shafts.
  • the inside drums are rotated together with the rollers to flow the liquid substances separated by means of the screen along the passageway U-shaped in cross section collect the same toward the outlet disposed forward and smoothly discharge the same from the outlet.
  • the liquid substances filtered with the screen join together toward the center to further heighten the flow rate. Therefore, the air mixed or retained can smoothly be discharged out.
  • the rollers are easy to attach or detach through opening the lid of the casing (front lid), cleaning can readily be performed. Checking the state of the screen is one of the important management items for the primary extraction apparatus, and the present invention can provide a device which anyone can easily disassemble, clean and visually confirm and which can satisfy the conditions required for food machinery.
  • the present invention further provides as the third aspect thereof the aforementioned solid-liquid separator using a roller system, further comprising paddles attached to a side of the outlets disposed forward of the inside drums.
  • the paddles are attached for the purpose of sending the liquid substance inside the rollers toward the outlet side or scooping up the same.
  • the present invention further provides as the fourth aspect thereof the aforementioned solid-liquid separator using a roller system, wherein each of the inside drums is provided on a side outer circumference or bottom surface thereof with a projection, a groove or concavo-convex feed blades for scooping the liquid substance inside the rollers or sending it to a forward outlet.
  • the feed blades (a projection, groove or concavo-convex structure (spiral blades having a twisted shape)) are preferably formed spirally (or in a spiral shape having one streak or plural streaks, twisted shape or screw shape) on the outlet side of the rollers, i.e. toward the tip side of the inside drum. They are preferably formed for the purpose of scooping and collecting the liquid substances at the tip surface of the inside drums (the end face or bottom surface of the cylindrical drums) from the inner peripheral side to the center of a circle or sending the same to the forward outlet.
  • the paddles it is possible for the paddles to scoop up the soymilk remaining on the bottom portion within the rollers and send it to the forward outlet and discharge it from the outlet.
  • the air (foams) is more efficiently discharged together with the liquid substances.
  • the present invention further provides as the fifth aspect thereof the aforementioned solid-liquid separator using a roller system, wherein the casing is provided therein with two or more of the rollers, the liquid substances separated and extracted at the respective rollers are discharged at a position higher than a position of an upper end of a highest roller and filtered, dehydrated and squeezed, with the rollers filled with the solid-liquid substance.
  • the rollers may be disposed in pairs as the first upper and second lower rollers in a horizontal posture ( FIG. 1 ), in pairs as the right and left rollers in a horizontal posture ( FIG. 11 ) or plurally aslant or zigzag (refer to FIGS. 7( a ), 7 ( b ) and 7 ( c )).
  • the present invention further provides, as the fifth aspect thereof, the aforementioned solid-liquid separator using a roller system, wherein the solid-liquid substance is soybean soup (unheated soybean-water slurry, boiled soybean-water slurry) used in a process of producing tofu, fried bean curd or soymilk beverage, the solid substance is okara, and the liquid substance is soymilk.
  • soybean soup unheated soybean-water slurry, boiled soybean-water slurry
  • the solid substance is okara
  • the liquid substance is soymilk.
  • the present invention when separating the solid-liquid mixture into the liquid substance and the solid substance, it is possible to extract the liquid substance (soymilk) having suppressed occurrence of foams generated when the soybean soup (unheated soybean-water slurry, boiled soybean-water slurry) is separated (dehydrated and squeezed) into the soymilk and okara.
  • the hollow portion in the roller is filled with the liquid substance to reduce the amount of the retained air and, at the same time, heighten the effect of urging the retained air by means of the flow of the discharged liquid substance and enabling the liquid substance containing few foams even in a method using no defoaming agent to be obtained.
  • the so-called fluid extraction can efficiently be performed.
  • the pressure of the liquid substance is sufficiently exerted in the presence of the inside drum and, at the same time, the liquid substance that has passed through the screen from the outlet for discharging the liquid substance separated with the screen on the forward side of the roller flows along the prescribed passageway for the liquid substance and is smoothly discharged from the outlet.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross section showing a solid-liquid separator using a roller system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section showing upper and lower rollers and a derive mechanism according to the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 3( a ) an enlarged cross section illustrating each of the rollers
  • FIG. 3( b ) an enlarged side view illustrating each of the rollers
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross section illustrating another example of the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a cross section showing a solid-liquid separator using a roller system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7( a ) is a diagram illustrating another example of each of the embodiments having a single roller
  • FIG. 7( b ) a diagram illustrating still another example of each of the embodiments having three rollers
  • FIG. 7( c ) a diagram illustrating yet another example of each of the embodiments having four rollers.
  • FIG. 8( a ) is a diagram illustrating another example of each of the embodiments having a pressure application lid that opens right and left
  • FIG. 8( b ) a diagram illustrating still another example of each embodiment having a pressure application lid to be linearly pushed forward
  • FIG. 8( c ) a diagram illustrating yet another example of each embodiment having pressure application means using a spring
  • FIG. 8( d ) a diagram illustrating a further example of each embodiment having pressure application means having a weight.
  • FIG. 9( a ) is an explanatory view showing the structure of a paddle on the forward side in the roller
  • FIG. 9( b ) a cross section showing the structure of the roller according to each of the embodiments
  • FIG. 9( c ) an explanatory view showing another paddle.
  • FIG. 10 is a cross section illustrating the structure of the paddle, an example in which a spiral paddle is disposed in the inside drum being shown in FIG. 10( a ), another example in which a spiral paddle is fixed to a reinforcing panel inside the screen being shown in FIG. 10( b ) and another example in which a spiral groove is formed in the side surface of the inside drum and the inside drum serves also as the reinforcing panel being shown in FIG. 10( c ).
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the array of the rollers as another example of each of the embodiments.
  • FIG. 12 is a cross section showing an example of a conventional apparatus as shown in Citation 3.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross section showing a solid-liquid separator Z 1 using a roller system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section illustrating rollers R 1 and R 2 and their drive mechanism in the solid-liquid separator Z 1 .
  • FIG. 3 includes a side view illustrating the configuration of the rollers R 1 and R 2 in FIG. 1 .
  • the solid-liquid separator Z 1 using the roller system according to the present embodiment is applied for the purpose of separating soybean soup (a solid-liquid mixture) into a solid substance (okara) and a liquid substance (soymilk) in producing tofu, fried bean curd and soymilk beverage and comprises a base 7 , a main body (casing) 3 formed in the shape of a numeral 8 and attached to the base 7 , a first roller R 1 incorporated into the upper circle of the numeral 8 and a second roller R 2 incorporated into the lower circle of the numeral 8 .
  • the casing 3 formed in the shape of the numeral 8 in cross section is provided at the center thereof (on the left side in FIG.
  • a pressure application lid 9 provided with pressure application means is disposed on the discharge window 8 for discharging the solid substance having a constant quality.
  • the present invention by appropriately adjusting the balance among the amount of the solid-liquid mixture supplied with supply means, the pressure to be applied during the supply, the number of rotations of the rollers and the pressure of the pressure application lid, it is possible to heighten the ability of processing, enhance the yield of the liquid substance, reduce the solid substance (perform the amount and volume reduction), reduce the minute solid substance in the liquid substance and adjust the conditions to optimum ones meeting the purposes aimed at.
  • the solid-liquid mixture to be supplied should be adjusted before and after the supply means with cooling means (a heat exchanger etc. of a plate, multitubular or corrugated tube type) or heating means (a heat exchanger of a plate, multitubular or corrugated tube type for direct steam-heating or indirect heating).
  • the temperature of the soybean soup immediately after being heated is in the range of 100 to 95° C., it is preferably lowered to a temperature in the range of 60 to 95° C. before the soybean soup is extracted in order to prevent clogging with the skin of soybean milk (the skin of soybean milk).
  • the paired rollers R 1 and R 2 are cylindrical rollers of the same shape and size disposed vertically so that their axial directions may be in parallel to each other.
  • the paired rollers R 1 and R 2 have respective rotation shafts Rj that are driven with a motor M via a coupling 17 and connected to each other with a gear wheel and synchronously rotated, with the rotating directions reversed.
  • As rotary bearings for fixing the rotation shafts Rj ordinary sliding bearings made of resin are adopted.
  • An inside drum Rd to be described later is attached to each of the rotation shafts Rj, a front lid Rm is disposed on the forward side thereof so as to be clamped between the inside drum Rd and the screen Rs (refer to FIG. 2 ).
  • the effect of a grater is positively made use of to induce secondary pulverization, thereby making it possible to reduce the solid substance and aim at the effect of enhancing the ratio of the solid substance moved to the liquid content, such as the effect of enhancing the concentration of soymilk.
  • enhancing the effect of a grater it is adopted to increase the number of roller revolutions, decrease the amount to be fed by the pump, use a fixed member as one of the rollers, strengthen the application of pressure by the pressure application lid and, as occasion demands, combine these actions.
  • Each of the paired rollers R 1 and R 2 is formed through overlapping of a screen Rs and a punching plate (reinforcing panel) Rh ( FIG. 3 ).
  • the screen Rs is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of each of the rollers R 1 and R 2 and formed therein over substantially the entire surface thereof with a great number of pores c.
  • a liquid substance (soymilk) extracted from a solid-liquid substance (soybean soup) is passed through the pores c and then recovered from outlets 11 and 12 formed in the end faces of the paired rollers R 1 and R 2 ( FIG. 2 ).
  • the punching plate Rh is disposed inside the screen Rs and serves to support the shape of the screen Rs and reinforce the screen Rs.
  • the inside drum Rd is disposed inside the punching plate Rh and provided with a passageway Rc so as to efficiently lead the liquid substance to the outlets 11 and 12 .
  • the inside drum Rd is provided to reduce an inside hollow portion of each of the upper and lower rollers R 1 and R 2 , made of metal (stainless steel, titanium) or resin, readily eliminate the air within the apparatus at the time the liquid substance flows into the rollers and is discharged from the outlets 11 and 12 and, at the same time, prevents the liquid substance from being disturbed and foamed within the rollers R 1 and R 2 and moreover reduces the liquid substance remaining within the rollers R 1 and R 2 .
  • the inside drum Rd may be formed in the shape of a sealed void or hollow portion and made of titanium or resin for the purpose of reducing the weight thereof.
  • the liquid substance that has passed through the screen Rs and has been separated passes through liquid substance passageways Rc formed in the presence of the inside drums Rd and in the shape of the letter “U” in cross section and are discharged from the outlets 11 and 12 .
  • liquid substance passageways Rc formed in the presence of the inside drums Rd and in the shape of the letter “U” in cross section and are discharged from the outlets 11 and 12 .
  • the continuous pipes from the outlets 11 and 12 may be set down to a position lower than the upper end of the highest roller and, in this case, a siphon effect can be expected to obtain a better effect of readily discharge the liquid substance (soymilk) and, since the solid-liquid substance little comes into contact with air, it is possible to suppress oxidation of the components, such as protein material, fat or pigment, of the liquid substance (soymilk) or solid substance (okara).
  • treated liquid obtained as separated from the first roller R 1 and treated liquid obtained as separated from the second roller R 2 may be discharged separately to the exterior or may be mixed and then discharged.
  • the rollers may be vertically disposed right and left in parallel to each other and an extraction device having two such rollers may be adopted.
  • the position of each of the outlets 11 and 12 is limited to the center of the passageway Rc U-shaped in cross section, the pipes disposed forward of the outlets may be at any position.
  • the flow rate of the liquid substance flowing on the passageway Rc is increased in proportion as the diameter of the inside drum is closer and closer to the inside diameter of the roller, i.e. in proportion as the cross section of the passageway Rc is smaller and smaller to obtain merits attaining the effect of pushing out the air inside the screen, effect of washing away the minute solid substances that may clog the pores in the screen and cleaning effect during the cleaning.
  • the first and second rollers R 1 and R 2 have the same size and are rotated at the same speed. While the pores c of the screens Rs of the first and second rollers R 1 and R 2 are the same in size and number, the sizes and numbers thereof may be different. Incidentally, it will suffice that at least one of the pair of rollers R 1 and R 2 is provided with a great number of pores c. Both the rollers R 1 and R 2 are not necessarily provided with the pores c.
  • the paired upper and lower rollers are provided as in the present embodiment, a space can be further reduced in comparison with a conventional configuration. In this embodiment, the first roller R 1 on the upper side is rotated from upward to downward and the second roller R 2 on the lower side from downward to upward.
  • the solid-liquid mixture is filtered through stepwise application of pressure thereto including a primary extraction between the first and second rollers R 1 and R 2 , i.e. in a prescribed region (region on the supply side) H 1 , a secondary extraction at a shortest distance portion between the rollers R 1 and R 2 and a tertiary extraction in a prescribed region (region on the discharge side) H 2 and, in this configuration, the solid substance is simultaneously discharged from the discharge window 8 immediately after the liquid substance is filtered onto the inside passageway Rc via the screens Rs of the rollers R 1 and R 2 .
  • the configuration of increasing the internal pressure stepwise has an effect of preventing the solid substance from re-absorbing the liquid substance in the inside passageway Rc via the screen Rs.
  • the prescribed region (region on the discharge side) H 2 is filled with the solid substance, the internal pressure up to the discharge window 8 provided with a pressure application lid 9 is homogenous, the re-absorption of the liquid substance via the screen Rs is difficult to induce, there is a cushioning effect by the elasticity of the solid substance in the region H 2 , and the liquid substance containing a small amount of minute solid substances is easy to obtain without forcibly urging the solid substance against the screen Rs.
  • rollers R 1 and R 2 do not come into contact with each other, gives a slight degree of pressure to the solid substance to assist filtration of the liquid substance and, at the same time, gives a propulsive force to the solid substance to move toward the discharge outlet, these are disposed at an interval of 0.1 to 10 mm.
  • the interval is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2 mm particularly for soymilk.
  • the supply inlet 2 for the solid-liquid mixture is disposed between the first and second rollers R 1 and R 2 and at a position throttled accurately at the center of the casing outer wall in the shape of the numeral 8 , and it is configured that the rotation force of the rollers becomes a propulsive force for the solid component most efficiently straightforward via the pair of the rollers R 1 and R 2 and that the solid component is discharged from the discharge window 8 disposed opposite to the casing outer wall in the shape of the numeral 8 .
  • rollers may be rubber rollers (with concave-convex patterns) or metal rollers.
  • the peripheral speeds (numbers of revolutions) of the rollers may be the same as or different from each other. Even with this configuration, the solid substance (okara) having a constant water content ratio is discharged from the discharge window 8 .
  • soymilk there are cases in which a quality rich in fiber can be obtained, the amount of soymilk containing the same concentration can be increased and the yield of tofu products is also increased by about 10 to 30%.
  • the size and number of the pores c in the screen Rs are optional, when the screen is for soymilk, the pores have a diameter in the range of 0.01 to 1.0 mm and are disposed preferably at pitches of 0.03 to 3.0 mm on the contact surface of the solid-liquid mixture, for example. Since the screen is fabricated with the microfabrication technique, such as laser processing, there are restrictions on the plate thickness, pore diameter and pore pitch.
  • the plate may be as thick as possible to have appropriate strength and the screen is preferably provided with a great number of pores having smaller diameters.
  • the aperture ratio is in the range of 3% to 30%, preferably 5% to 20%.
  • the larger pore diameter or aperture ratio induces lacking strength, whereas the smaller pore diameter or aperture ratio makes the filtration ability insufficient.
  • the shape thereof may be any of circular, oblong elliptical and rectangular shapes, it does not matter when the maximum opening distance or aperture ratio falls within the above range.
  • the screen is ordinarily made of stainless steel, titanium or resin and has a thickness of 0.1 to 3 mm.
  • the diameter of the pores is preferably in the range of 0.02 to 0.2 mm and the pitches thereof are preferably in the range of 0.06 to 0.6 mm.
  • minute residue may be removed from the soymilk obtained from the primary extraction using a residue-removing apparatus provided with a screen (300 to 100 meshes, opening of 0.05 to 0.15 mm, or pore diameter of 0.01 to 0.1 mm) at a subsequent step.
  • the punching plate (reinforcing panel) Rh has a pore diameter sufficiently larger than the diameter of the pores c in the screen Rs, an aperture ratio higher than the screen Rs and strength large enough to support the screen Rs.
  • the pores may be circular, oblong, elliptical or rectangular.
  • the punching plate may be ordinarily made of stainless steel, titanium or plastic, the thickness thereof is 3 to 10 mm, preferably 5 to 8 mm.
  • the pore diameter is 1 to 10 mm, preferably 3 to 8 mm.
  • the shape of the pores may be any of circular, oblong, elliptical and rectangular shapes.
  • the prescribed region (region on the supply side) H 1 that is substantially triangular-shaped (delta-shaped) in cross section and defined by the pair of rollers R 1 and R 2 and the supply inlet 2 from which the solid-liquid mixture is to be supplied is set to be narrower than the prescribed region (region on the discharge side) H 2 that is substantially triangular-shaped (delta-shaped) in cross section and defined by the pair of rollers R 1 and R 2 and the discharge window 8 ( FIG. 5 ).
  • the solid-liquid mixture supplied is urged against the discharge window 8 in the passageway (protruded just from the front surface and discharged).
  • the pressure application lid 9 is disposed on the discharge window 8 by means of a cylinder Sr that is pressure application means, even when the solid-liquid mixture urged against the discharge window 8 collides on the discharge window 8 , it is not immediately discharged, but a solid substance (okara) containing a prescribed amount of water is discharged.
  • the water content of the solid substance (okara) to be discharged is substantially homogeneous without being changed owing to the rotation speeds of the first and second rollers R 1 and R 2 and the concentration of soybean soup that is the solid-liquid mixture.
  • a scraper for scraping solid substances (okara and residue) adhering to the screens Rs of the first and second rollers R 1 and R 2 may be disposed at any position on the outer peripheries of the first and second rollers R 1 and R 2 , it is not disposed at least in the region 112 on the discharge side in the present embodiment, but a tip portion 3 a of the casing 3 is disposed adjacent to the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second rollers R 1 and R 2 ( FIG. 1 ).
  • the pressure application lid 9 fulfills its function relative to the discharge window 8 upon being pressurized by the pressure application means as shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 , and the pressure application lid 9 pressurized under constant pressure by the cylinder Sr that is the pressure application means is attached to the discharge window 8 .
  • the pressure application lid 9 is of a one-side open type, with the upper side kept fixed to the casing 3 and the lower side openable and closable.
  • the cylinder Sr is fixed to a fixing base 3 b provided on the outer periphery of the casing 3 at which the upper roller R 1 is disposed, and a rod Srd of the cylinder Sr applies pressure to the pressure application lid, directly or via a depressing plate 15 attached to the outside of the pressure application lid 9 , in the direction of closing the discharge window 8 .
  • the depressing plate is attached to the pressure application lid 9 and made movable by the rod Srd of the cylinder Sr. Since the solid substance is discharged from the lower side along the outer wall of the casing 3 in the one-side open type, the solid substance is prevented from adhering to the cylinder Sr.
  • the present embodiment is provided with one or two cylinders Sr that are pressure application means ( FIG. 4 ).
  • the casing is provided on the lower side thereof with a chute 14 for discharging the solid substance (okara) from it.
  • okara solid substance
  • a configuration in which the first and second rollers R 1 and R 2 is disposed in a vertical posture as shown in FIG. 11 may be adopted.
  • the outlets 11 and 12 are disposed on the upper side and the pipe K is attached to the outlets 11 and 12 in the horizontal direction, the fluid filtration can be performed.
  • a posture opposite to the posture shown in FIG. 11 in which the outlets 11 and 12 are disposed on the lower side and united and attached to a vertical pipe for waste liquid so as to rise up to a position higher than the upper end of the rollers may be adopted and, by providing the rollers with the paddles as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , it is possible to provide a configuration capable of discharging retained air and easy to suppress the air retention.
  • the example in which the roller shafts Rj are disposed in the vertical direction to dispose the paired right and left rollers can best save a space and is excellent in operability.
  • the outlets for the liquid substance are directed upward, the air can readily be discharged.
  • the air retained in the rollers is difficult to discharge in the case of the outlets directed downward, it is possible to forcibly discharge the air using the paddles or feed blades.
  • the amount of the solid-liquid mixture to be supplied and the pressure application means for pressurizing the pressure application lid 9 are preferably made controllable with a control section 5 as shown in FIG. 4 . That is to say, though the degree of throttle is adjusted by a constant pressure control having the pressure application lid 9 provided with constant pressure adjustment means, this is for the purpose of easily changing the pressure application of the pressure application lid 9 in compliance with the state and amount of the solid-liquid mixture to be supplied even during the operation through enabling the value of air pressure supplied with the air cylinder Sr that is the pressure application means to be adjustable in compliance with the amount of the solid-liquid mixture to be supplied.
  • a system capable of setting numerical values can be designed with ease.
  • soybean soup that is a solid-liquid mixture having soybeans immersed in water overnight, pulverized while being added with water and boiled has been supplied from the supply inlet 2 of the casing 3 , with appropriate pressure applied to the soybean soup, it passes through the region H 1 on the supplied side, the closest portion between the pair of upper and lower rollers R 1 and R 2 and the region H 2 on the discharge side, thereby separating the soymilk from the soybean soup via the pores c formed in the screens Rs disposed on the outer peripheries of the rollers.
  • the soybean soup may be introduced through self-weight supply using a hopper
  • level control is performed so that the level of the soybean soup in the hopper is held constant and more preferable that the soybean milk is supplied under prescribed pressure into the supply inlet 2 with a pump.
  • the self-weight supply little induces filtration in the region H 1 on the supply side and, since the force of urging the solid substance toward the discharge outlet depends greatly on the rotation force of the rollers, the phenomenon of a “grater” occurs to facilitate acquisition of the liquid substance having minute solid substances mixed therewith.
  • the present invention utilizes the pump as the supply means to supply the solid-liquid mixture under weak and appropriate pressure (0.0005 to 0.5 MPa), thereby suppressing the phenomenon of the “grater” from occurring, enabling the filtration on the entire surface of the screen facing the region H 1 on the supply side and making it possible to use a wide filtration area efficiently.
  • the filtration area is wide, the filtration time for a prescribed amount of the solid-liquid mixture can be shortened to heighten the filtration ability and consequently the phenomenon of the “grater” is difficult to occur to thereby obtain a liquid substance containing a small amount of minute solid substances. That is to say, in the case of the soybean soup, the amount of the residue in soymilk becomes small.
  • the pressure application by the pump suppressed under prescribed constant pressure enables the discharge window 8 to be urged in a fully closed direction by the pressure application lid 9 , it can effectively be utilized without leaking the liquid substance from the discharge window 8 . That is to say, it is preferred that both the pressure application supply by the pump and the pressure application lid are used in conjunction with each other.
  • the internal pressure is apt to fluctuate depending on the quality of soybeans, the conditions of boiling the soybean soup, the concentration of the soybean soup, the level of the soybean soup in the tank and the degree of pressure application by the pump, and the phenomenon of the “grater” sometimes occurs to produce a liquid substance containing a great amount of minute solid substances and, as the case may be, there is a possibility of the solid-liquid mixture passing through as it is to leak from the discharge outlet.
  • the pressure application by the pump is much stronger than the pushing pressure by the pressure application lid.
  • the soybean soup supplied to the rollers R 1 and R 2 is first filtered in the region H 1 on the supply side under small pressure by the pump pressure, then filtered in the portion closest to the paired rollers under slightly large pressure and directed toward the pressure application lid 9 . However, it is brought to a strongly pressurized state at a portion (in the region on the discharge side) H 2 defined by the upper and lower rollers, passageway between the scrapers and pressure application lid 9 and stepwise filtered (dehydrated and squeezed).
  • a pipe K for taking out the liquid substance has a structure capable of fluid filtration, in which a pipe K 1 for taking out the liquid substance from the upper roller R 1 and a pipe K 2 for taking out the liquid substance from the lower roller R 2 are connected to each other ( FIG. 4 ) so that the position of the upper end of the pipe K 2 from the lower roller R 2 is higher than the position of the height of the upper roller R 1 . That is to say, by configuring the pipe K so that deaeration can be attained either from the upper roller R 1 or from the lower roller R 2 , it is possible to extract high-quality soymilk containing no foam and exhibiting no quality variation.
  • the pipe configuration it is possible to adopt the configuration in which the liquid substance is taken out from a lower side Ke similarly to the upper side of the pipe shown in FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 5 another example of a solid-liquid separator Z 2 using a roller system, according to the present embodiment, is shown in FIG. 5 , in which the tip portion 3 a of the casing 3 is not provided, but passageways T 1 and T 2 are provided for allowing the solid-liquid mixture to run through the outer peripheries of the upper and lower rollers R 1 and R 2 .
  • This example particularly has effects of widening the filtration area to enhance the filtering efficiency, forming on the surface of the screen a thin layer of solid substance, allowing the thin layer to serve as a filter aid though the filtering efficiency and the treatment ability are slightly lowered, and suppressing minute solid substances (residue in soymilk, for example) from being mixed via the screen into the liquid substance.
  • the scraper may be provided at any position on the outer peripheries of the pair of rollers R 1 and R 2 .
  • rollers to be disposed will be described. Also, in the case of a single roller R 1 as shown in FIG. 7( a ), it is possible to feed a solid-liquid mixture from the supply inlet 2 to the discharge window 8 via the roller R 1 .
  • FIG. 7 ( b ) shows a configuration in which three rollers R 1 to R 3 are disposed zigzag to supply the solid-liquid mixture from the supply inlet 2 between the rollers R 1 and R 2 disposed upward aslant, feed it to and discharge it from the discharge window 8 between the rollers R 2 and R 3 disposed downward aslant.
  • first paired rollers R 1 and R 2 and second paired rollers R 3 and R 4 are disposed and connected linearly to each other with a passageway 3 c .
  • a prescribed wall 3 d is provided in the vicinity of the discharge window 8 for directing the flow of the liquid substance (this case has the advantage of heightening the pressure of the solid-liquid mixture in the region H 2 on the discharge side).
  • a scraper may be substituted for the prescribed wall 3 d .
  • a multistage line may be configured so that a final liquid substance may be obtained from a liquid substance obtained using a first solid-liquid separator (using a screen having a coarse pore diameter and application of large pressure, for example), by the use of a second solid-liquid separator (using a screen having a smaller pore diameter and application of extremely small pressure).
  • a first solid-liquid separator using a screen having a coarse pore diameter and application of large pressure, for example
  • a second solid-liquid separator using a screen having a smaller pore diameter and application of extremely small pressure
  • the casing 3 forms a wall made cylindrical around each of the rollers R 1 to R 4 .
  • the pair of upper and lower rollers, the pair of rollers in parallel (horizontally), plural rollers with their roller shafts disposed vertically and three or more rollers zigzag.
  • dehydration of the liquid substance or squeezing of the solid substance is finally performed.
  • FIG. 8( a ) there are provided a pair of pressure application lids 9 to each of which a cylinder Sr that is the pressure application means is attached.
  • the configuration shown in FIG. 8( b ) is of a direct acting overriding type in which the center of the pressure application lid 9 is pressurized by the air cylinder so as to discharge the solid substance from the outer periphery of the circular discharge window 8 .
  • the pressure application means include an oil pressure cylinder, a water pressure cylinder, a mere weight (reference symbol Ro in FIG. 8( d )) and a spring ( FIG. 8( c )).
  • FIGS. 8( a ), 8 ( c ) and 8 ( d ) the cases of one side of the pressure application lid 9 movably fixed to the casing enable stable pressure application to be performed.
  • the inside drum Rd is attached to the roller shaft Rj of each of the rollers R 1 and R 2 ( FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3 ).
  • the inside drum Rd is made of cylindrical stainless steel, attached to the roller shaft Rj and provided with no pore unlike the screen.
  • the inside drum Rd prevents the soymilk (including residue or cleaning liquid) from retention in the rollers R 1 and R 2 and, at the same time, fulfills its function to effectively perform dehydration or squeezing of soymilk between itself and the screen Rs formed in the outer periphery thereof with a great number of pores c and to suppress foams from being generated.
  • the inside drum Rd is provided at a forward position thereof with outlets 11 and 12 .
  • the outlets 11 and 12 are provided at the forward center of the cylindrical rollers R 1 and R 2 . Therefore, the liquid substance flows along the passageway Rc U-shaped in cross section and formed between the screen Rs and the inside drum Rd within the rollers R 1 and R 2 and sent out to the outlets 11 and 12 .
  • the inside drum Rd may be made of stainless steel and, in view of light weight, of synthetic resin or titanium.
  • the shape of the inside drum Rd may be polygonal in cross section that includes a triangular column, rectangular column and hexagonal column or may have a function to send the liquid substance forward utilizing a snake-like or spiral shape (the shape of a twisted candle, for example) formed by means of the inside drum equipped with a paddle.
  • the inside drum may be tapered to have the diameter thereof reduced gradually toward the forward side (outlets 11 and 12 ), thereby making the liquid substance easy to flow toward the side of the outlets 11 and 12 .
  • the inside drum Rd and rollers R 1 and R 2 are fixed to the central roller shafts of the rollers with bolts to enable the inside drum Rd and rollers R 1 and R 2 to be easily detached from and attached to the roller shafts Rj.
  • the inside drum is provided on the front end thereof with a paddle 10 ( FIGS. 9 and 10 ). Since the soymilk separated is successively flowing in the rollers R 1 and R 2 , the soymilk in the rollers R 1 and R 2 is discharged from the outlet 11 as being extruded. At the time of the termination of the operation, however, the soymilk cannot be extruded. While the upper half of the soymilk in the rollers R 1 and R 2 is discharged from the outlets 11 and 12 via the lower side Ke of the pipe K opened, the lower half of the soymilk is kept remaining in the rollers R 1 and R 2 . In order to discharge the soymilk, though in a small amount, attachment of paddles 10 is effective.
  • each paddle 10 has a length reaching the length of the passageway Rc U-shaped in cross section for the liquid substance and has a tip shape 10 a formed preferably in a bent shape for easily scooping up the soymilk ( FIG. 9( c )). As a result, the remaining soymilk can be discharged from the outlet 11 as being continuously scooped up with the paddles 10 .
  • the inside drum Rd is preferably provided on the outer peripheral wall thereof with a spiral projection Rr or 10 n , or inversely in the outer peripheral wall thereof with a groove (not shown). Otherwise, the formation of a concavo-convex peripheral wall combining the two will suffice. Feed blades formed on the outer peripheral walls of the inside drums Rd may be used in conjunction with the paddles. This is further effective. In addition, an effect of efficiently discharge the air retained in the rollers can be induced even when the roller shafts are disposed vertically or aslant to allow the discharge outlets to be directed downward.
  • the paddles 10 may be attached to the roller shafts Rj of the rollers R 1 and R 2 . That is to say, the paddles 10 may be attached rotatably to the leading end of the roller shaft Rj passing through the inside drum Rd and projecting forward. Furthermore, the paddles 10 may be disposed on the inner surface of the screen Rs (inner surface of the reinforcing punching cylinder). Moreover, the inside drum may have a configuration in which the reinforcing punching cylinder and inside drum Rd are used in conjunction with each other and a concavo-convex portion 10 m is formed on the surface of the inside drum using the retaining function of the screen and the formation of the passageway in conjunction with each other ( FIG. 10( c )).
  • FIG. 6 is a cross section showing a solid-liquid separator Z 3 having a roller system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • paired scrapers 6 are attached as directed to the upper and lower rollers R 1 and R 2 , respectively. That is to say, unlike the solid-liquid separator Z 2 having the roller system, the passageway T 1 and T 2 are not provided here.
  • the paired scrapers 6 are disposed to guide, without any modification, the solid-liquid mixture that has been supplied and passed between the upper and lower rollers R 1 and R 2 in the direction of the discharge window 8 .
  • a region H 2 on the discharge side is defined by the upper and lower rollers R 1 and R 2 , the upper and lower scrapers 6 and a pressure application lid 9 on the wall of a casing 3 that is disposed close to the scrapers. It is possible for the upper and lower scrapers 6 to be attached as being spread in proportion as the scrapers are directed toward the discharge window 8 . In this configuration, it is possible to avoid a cake (solid substance) from retention in the passageway between the scrapers to eliminate a state unable to continue the operation (closed state). Since the friction resistance of the solid substance relative to the scrapers is small, the solid substance smoothly flows to expect the enhancement of the effect of the treatment ability.
  • a region H 1 on the supply side is set to be larger than the region H 2 on the discharge side.
  • the solid-liquid mixture to be supplied from the region H 1 on the supply side can readily pass through the region H 2 on the discharge side to allow the solid substance in a half-extracted state to readily pass in synchronization with the rotation of the rollers.
  • the extraction time can be shortened to enhance the apparatus performance, make the phenomenon of the solid substance rubbing the surface of the screens on the rollers (the so-called “grater” phenomenon) hard to occur and enable the liquid substance (soymilk) containing a small amount of minute solid substances (residues in the soymilk, for example) to be obtained.
  • the solid substance always filling the region H 2 on the discharge side causes the entire discharge pressure of the discharge window 8 to become large and, therefore, there is no case where the force pressing the discharge window 8 becomes insufficient.
  • the internal pressure can be heightened and, in addition, the fine adjustment of the internal pressure, i.e. fine adjustment of extraction state, can easily be performed.
  • the solid-liquid mixture sent under pressure between the upper and lower rollers is primarily extracted in the region H 1 on the supply side, secondarily extracted between the upper and lower rollers, receives the propulsive force toward the discharge window 8 by means of the rotation force of the rollers, passes the upper and lower rollers and passageway (between the scrapers 6 (scraper passageway), is subjected to tertiary extraction in the region H 2 on the discharge side and discharged from the gap between the pressure application lid 9 and the discharge window 8 .
  • the solid-liquid mixture is conveyed in a straight stream from a supply inlet 2 and strongly pushes the pressure application lid 9 .
  • the water content ratio of the solid substance by this pushing force can be adjusted through the adjustment of the pressure applied by an air cylinder Sr.
  • the cylindrical upper and lower faces are directed in the lateral direction and, when the solid-liquid mixture has been supplied from the upper side, it may fall down spontaneously (by gravity) between the pair of rollers R 1 and R 2 . It is also possible that the cylindrical upper and lower faces are directed to the upper and lower ends (the roller shafts are directed longitudinally, vertically or slightly aslant).
  • Citation 3 though not described therein but assumed from FIG. 1 thereof, makes the air retained inside the rollers difficult to deaerate and, in the case of the treated liquid containing fine air like soybean soup, forms a state in which the air is always supplied to the inside of the rollers and retained therein.
  • FIG. 1 of Citation 3 it is conceivable from FIG. 1 of Citation 3 that the outside of the rollers is exposed to the air when the upper side contains a small amount of the liquid to be treated and that the skin of soybean milk is formed to readily induce clogging. Since it is also assumable from FIG.
  • the solid-liquid separator using the roller system according to the embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which the pump is used as the supply means to bring the rollers into no direct contact with the air, allows no air layer to exist on either surface of the rollers (screens) and, by providing the inside drum or the inside drum equipped additionally with the paddles, enables the retained air to be discharged along with the liquid substance by means of the inside drum. Therefore, the skin of soybean milk is hard to form and, even when clogging has been induced, the clogging substances can be sent out under pressure with the pump.
  • the present invention has the advantage of clogging being hard to induce. the skin of soybean milk
  • Citation 3 though not described therein but assumed from FIG. 1 thereof, supplies the solid-liquid mixture to the apparatus using its own weight, only utilizes the falling difference to discharge the liquid substance from the apparatus and requires a next-step apparatus to be disposed below an outlet pipe and, since the pressure for extruding the solid substance depends only on the rotation force of the rollers, it can be estimated that the “grater” phenomenon is likely to occur. Also in Citation 3, there is no description concerning the effect of using the supply means, such as a pump, to supply a solid-liquid mixture in conjunction with a lid body.
  • the feed pump is used to supply the solid-liquid mixture under small pressure between the upper and lower rollers
  • the filtration surface on the rollers is wide and can effectively be made use of to enhance the filtration ability and add the rotation force of the rollers, thereby extruding the solid substance toward the discharge outlet.
  • the separated liquid substance can be sent out to a higher position in the presence of the pump pressure. Therefore, there is no restriction on the height of an apparatus to be used at a next step.
  • a rising pipe can be used midway a next delivery step after the separation operation using no defoaming agent in the case of the foamable solid-liquid mixture, a foam-suppressing action can be expected.
  • the spring 52 and lid body 53 are provided at positions deep in the lower side of the right and left rollers in the direction of closing the discharge outlet 51.
  • the upper and lower rollers R 1 and R 2 are disposed and since the cylinder Sr and scrapers 6 are disposed sideways, the attachment and adjustment of these parts can be performed with ease. Also in the cleaning operation, cleaning can be performed in the embodiment of the present invention in a state in which the discharge window has been opened with the cylinder Sr.
  • Citation 3 adopts the configuration in which the scraper is disposed on the beneath side to make the attachment and adjustment thereof difficult to perform. That is to say, since the lid body 53 of Citation 3 is disposed at a deep position on the lower side of the apparatus and is hard to visually confirm, adjustment, fully closing and cleaning operations are difficult to perform. On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the upper and lower rollers R 1 and R 2 are disposed and since the cylinder Sr and scrapers 6 are disposed sideways, attachment and adjustment of the parts are easy to conduct while visually confirming the parts and it is easy to perform the fully closing and cleaning operations.
  • each of the embodiments has been illustrated citing the case where the soybean soup is extracted to produce soymilk.
  • the method of extracting boiled soybean-water slurry or the method of extracting unheated soybean-water slurry may be adopted.
  • the embodiments are not limited to the production of tofu, fried bean curd or soymilk beverage, but can be applied to a wide variety industrial fields for separating a solid-liquid substance into a solid substance and a liquid substance including production of squeezed fruit beverage, sludge treatment and foodstuff residue treatment.
  • each of the embodiments of the present invention has been described with respect to the fluid filtration structure, the present invention is applicable to any other structures than the fluid filtration structure.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Nutrition Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Botany (AREA)
  • Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Beans For Foods Or Fodder (AREA)
  • Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)
US12/801,191 2009-11-18 2010-05-27 Solid-liquid separator using roller system Active 2032-04-28 US8556086B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2009-263384 2009-11-18
JP2009263384A JP4956601B2 (ja) 2009-11-18 2009-11-18 ローラ式の固液分離装置

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110114552A1 US20110114552A1 (en) 2011-05-19
US8556086B2 true US8556086B2 (en) 2013-10-15

Family

ID=44010514

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/801,191 Active 2032-04-28 US8556086B2 (en) 2009-11-18 2010-05-27 Solid-liquid separator using roller system

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US8556086B2 (ja)
JP (1) JP4956601B2 (ja)
KR (1) KR101362721B1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4913202B2 (ja) * 2009-11-09 2012-04-11 株式会社高井製作所 ローラ式の固液分離装置
KR101594840B1 (ko) 2013-11-22 2016-02-26 한국생산기술연구원 초전도선재 두께 균일도가 개선된 초전도선재의 제조방법과 전기 도금 방법 및 그 방법에 이용되는 초전도선재 전기 도금 장치.
JP6384849B2 (ja) * 2013-12-03 2018-09-05 オリンパス株式会社 硬度可変アクチュエータ
WO2017107113A1 (zh) * 2015-12-23 2017-06-29 陈良娟 一种固液分离装置
ES2646102B1 (es) * 2016-06-07 2018-10-16 Javier IBAÑEZ RAMON Tamiz rotatorio
EP4175732A1 (en) * 2020-07-02 2023-05-10 Danmarks Tekniske Universitet Roller filtration apparatus
CN111729368B (zh) * 2020-07-30 2021-10-19 山东恒鑫生物科技有限公司 一种一体化污水处理装置

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5110461A (en) * 1990-09-05 1992-05-05 Abel Guenther Apparatus for separating liquids and solids

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5020390Y1 (ja) * 1972-08-30 1975-06-20
JPS5043198Y2 (ja) * 1972-10-12 1975-12-10
JPS53128579A (en) * 1977-04-14 1978-11-09 Rikou Sougou Kenkiyuushiyo Kk Method of pelletizing slurries and sludges by soliddliquid separation
JPS55144515U (ja) * 1979-04-05 1980-10-17
JPS62109723U (ja) * 1985-12-28 1987-07-13
JPH02229510A (ja) * 1989-03-02 1990-09-12 Kikkoman Corp 濾過機
KR20000006245U (ko) * 1998-09-11 2000-04-15 이윤철 슬러리（slurry）처리용 고액체 분리기
KR200212022Y1 (ko) * 1998-12-14 2001-02-01 김유일 협잡물 처리용 고액체 분리기
JP3537377B2 (ja) * 2000-04-28 2004-06-14 株式会社ヤナギヤ 円筒式絞り機
KR200422222Y1 (ko) * 2006-05-04 2006-07-25 정숭기 두유여과장치

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5110461A (en) * 1990-09-05 1992-05-05 Abel Guenther Apparatus for separating liquids and solids

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
Machine Translation JP 2001-314999. *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20110114552A1 (en) 2011-05-19
JP4956601B2 (ja) 2012-06-20
KR101362721B1 (ko) 2014-02-13
JP2011104541A (ja) 2011-06-02
KR20110055346A (ko) 2011-05-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8556086B2 (en) Solid-liquid separator using roller system
US10384970B2 (en) Biconical multiphase rotary filter
JP5038390B2 (ja) 豆乳製造方法及び豆乳製造装置
EP1755427B1 (de) Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung eines getränkes
CN102595981A (zh) 具有稠状果汁制造功能的果汁机
EP2448648B1 (en) Improvements relating to filtration and dewatering apparatus
JP5830481B2 (ja) 豆腐・油揚げ生地の脱水・成型方法とその装置
US8505740B2 (en) Solid-liquid separator using roller system
RU2630767C2 (ru) Перетирающий сепаратор для отделения сока фруктов и овощей от мякоти фруктов и овощей
CN104083065A (zh) 螺杆挤压式榨汁机
CN206423954U (zh) 榨汁杯组件和原汁机
KR200489360Y1 (ko) 분리 스크류 및 이를 이용한 착즙기
CN106308443B (zh) 料理机
JP7256945B2 (ja) ろ過装置
CN212116974U (zh) 一种榨汁去核机
KR101929010B1 (ko) 분리형 착즙롤러가 구비된 착즙장치
CN117861313B (zh) 腐竹加工用浆渣分离装置
CN118059567B (zh) 一种腐竹生产原浆分离装置
CN210610943U (zh) 一种豆类清洗设备
US20230311030A1 (en) Roller filtration apparatus
CN220370546U (zh) 一种调配罐
CN206151298U (zh) 一种食品加工专用的可自动加水的打浆机
RU2427619C2 (ru) Бункер для пивной дробины
KR20240076982A (ko) 증숙 마쇄 대두의 고액 분리용 스퀴징 장치
KR20150020868A (ko) 맷돌형 착즙 스크류 조립체 및 이를 포함하는 주서기

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TAKAI, TOICHIRO;UEDA, SATOSHI;AWAZU, TORU;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:024491/0044

Effective date: 20100517

AS Assignment

Owner name: TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO., JAPAN

Free format text: RECORD TO CORRECT ASSIGNOR'S ADDRESS, FILING DATE AND TITLE ON AN ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 024491 FRAME 0044;ASSIGNORS:TAKAI, TOICHIRO;UEDA, SATOSHI;AWAZU, TORU;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:025019/0035

Effective date: 20100517

AS Assignment

Owner name: TAKAI TOFU & SOYMILK EQUIPMENT CO., JAPAN

Free format text: RECORD TO CORRECT EXECUTED DATES ON AN ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME: 025019/0035;ASSIGNORS:TAKAI, TOICHIRO;UEDA, SATOSHI;AWAZU, TORU;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:025308/0264

Effective date: 20100823

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YR, SMALL ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M2552); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 8